Nasal device.



No. 675,275. Patented May 28, IQOL' J. H. GUNNING.

NASAL DEVICE.

(Application filed May 25, 1900.)

(No Nodl.)

THE Norms PETERS co. PNOTO-LITHO. WASNINGTON. m c.

FFICE.

JO SEPHUS H. GUNNING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

NAS'AL DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,27 5, dated May 28,1901. Application filed May 25, 1900. Serial No. 17,916. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osEPHUs H. GUNNING,

a citizen of the United States, residing in theborough of Manhattan, inthe city and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Nasal Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Devices to be introduced into the nostrils to hold them open have beenlong used for certain diseased conditions. I have discovered that thecases in which such devices may be of much benefit are very numerous. Ihave devised a convenient light device made, preferably, of preciousmetal, which carries portions adapted to enter the nostrils,respectively,and to hold them gently dilated and also carries light butadequate clamps adapted to take hold on the bridge of the nose above, sothat the device will be reliably kept in place.

My improved device is also adapted to administer medical agents in theform of fumes or vapors by moistenin g cotton-gauze and inserting suchin the interiors of the short tubes, inserted one in each nostril.

The instrument serves usefully in cases of disease or deformityrequiring gentle surgical treatment and also in the large class of caseswhere'the wearers are in ordinary health, with no deformity which wouldbe usually recognized as such, but where the tissues do not ofthemselves hold the nostrils sufficiently open. Its use is especiallyindicated for athlctes to avoid opening the mouth for the stronginhaling of air required in violent exercise.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification andrepresent what I consider the best means of carrying out the -invention.

Figure l is a perspective view showing the device in use; Fig. 2, aperspective view showing the device removed from the nose; Fig. 3, afront elevation showing the device engaged with the bridge of a pair ofspectacles; and Fig. 4, a central longitudinal section of one of thetubes, showing its loose filling of cot ton carrying a liquid to beinhaled.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they appear.

A A are short tubes; B 13, wires connecting them to an upright G, theupper end of which latter is knuckled and receives and confines by ascrew D a curved spring E, equipped at 'to that of the correspondingparts in the spectacles sometimes known as pince-nez. The inner face ofeach of these pieces G is formed with two metals H and I, one copper andthe other zinc. Each wire B is joined to the corresponding tube A bysoldering and is extended upward along the exterior of the tube and bentinward, the free end B reaching nearly or quite across the interior ofthe tube. This cross-bar B in each tube forms a stop to firmly arrestand hold in place material, preferably cotton-gauze M, (see Fig. 4,)carrying any required medical agent which will vaporize and be inhaled.The spring E is held at right angles to the wire 0 by the aid of ahorizontal support 0', extending a little distance to the right andleft.

I prefer that the parts A, B, and 0 shall be of pure silver or of analloy thereof.

The application of the device requires little skill or care. Itisapplied by an upward movement, thrusting the tubes A each into thecorresponding nostril, and then by the obvious movement of the upper endof the device rearward toward the head the clamping-spring E opens alittle and allows the clamp to take a gentle hold on the upper portionof the nose. It may be shifted a little from time to time; but myexperiments indicate that the wearer soon becomes so accustomed to itthat he is unconscious of its pressure. In sleep the nostrils are keptopen and there is no temptation to open the mouth.

In vigorous exerciserunning, rowing, or

working a bicycle against a strong wind or up a hillthis device aids toform and maintain the habit of great importancethat of keeping the lipsclosed, so that the lungs receive no air except through the nose.

When spectacles are worn at the same time, my clamp E may be set eitherabove or below the bridge of the spectacles. With spectacles which haveprovisions for strong engagement with the head my device is preferablyhooked over the spectacles, so as to further insure its retention withviolent movements.

Athletes not requiring spectacles with lenses may wear spectacle-frameswith plain glasses or without glasses to obtain this means of doublyassuring the retention of my device.

I propose to provide small sizes for children.

It is believed that the use of the device will strengthen the parts, sothat the wearer will be able in time to dispense with it and still holdthe nostrils distended even when strongly inhaling.

Iattach importance to the j unctionsof the spring E with the upright Oand also with the extensions G, for the two reasons that it allows theuse of hard rolled metal or springtempered steel for the spring, whilethe other parts may be a different metal, as silver, which can be bentto suit the wearer, and also that it allows the easy exchange of theextensions when deemed expedient.

The term dilators may be used to designate the tubes A or equivalentdevices for holding the nostrils open without seriously obstructing theinduction of air.

I claim as my invention 1. A nasal device comprising two dilatorsadapted to be inserted in the nostrils respectively and hold them opento allow free inhalation, in combination with converging wires B B andan upwardly-extending wire 0 connecting with a curved spring E adaptedfor supporting the device by the bridge of the nose, all substantiallyas herein specified.

2. In a nasal device, two nostril-dilators A A with branched wires B B Cextending outward and upward, and provisions attached to the wire 0adapted to support the device by engaging with securely-heldspectacleframes, all combined and arranged to serve substantially asherein specified.

3. The nasal device described, having tubes A A adapted for insertion inthe nostrils respectively and for retaining light material ascotton-gauze, wires B 0, extending therefrom outward and upward, thecurved spring E adapted for supporting the whole by the bridge of thenose,-the horizontal support 0 and screw D for joining the mid-length ofthe spring, and the boxes F and screws F for joining the ends of thespring to the other parts, all substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aflix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

J. H. GUNNING.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY J. HULL, F. H. GUNNING.

